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Old 05-01-2008, 11:20 AM   #1 (permalink)
 
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Front Swaybar

does anyone make a larger front sway bar for the 451 ? the stock one looks to be 19mm

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Old 05-01-2008, 11:56 AM   #2 (permalink)
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What condition are you trying to change? Body lean? Handling change?

A stiffer FRONT sway bar will increase understeer, and the smart has enough of that already. In all cases, a stiffer suspension will reduce wet weather traction. Stiffer sway bars will not reduce hobby-horsing on shifts, only heavier spring rates and dampers can do that.

Last edited by Old smart; 05-01-2008 at 06:58 PM. Reason: sp.
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Old 05-01-2008, 01:14 PM   #3 (permalink)
 
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body lean when the wind blows on it

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Originally Posted by Old smart View Post
What condition are you trying to change? Body lean? Handling change?

A stiffer FRONT sway bar will increase understeer, and the smart has enough of that already. In all cases, a stiffer suspension will reduce wet weather traction. A stiffer sway bars will not reduce hobby-horsing on shifts, only heavier spring rates and dampers can do that.
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Old 05-01-2008, 01:27 PM   #4 (permalink)
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If you do find a stiffer sway bar, I wouldn't dispose of your original until you see if body lean is improved, and if so, if the improvement is worth a likely change in handling.
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Old 05-01-2008, 06:42 PM   #5 (permalink)
 
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I am not sure a stiffer sway bar is the way to go

If you want to reduce body lean caused by wind gusts, I do not believe that a bigger front swaybar would be the best answer to that. The increased stiffness of the sway bar would upset the roll-couple distributation (front-to-rear roll balance) with minimal improvement in your original goal of reducing wind-induced sway.

If one could source suspension dampners that were valved for increased rebound dampning, this would help. In addition, any lowering of the front and rear ride height would help, but most likely at the expense of ride quality. Increasing the front and rear track width, along with a slight increase in spring rates, would also help.

The real problem here is the Smart was designed to be tall and narrow. The height helps create its great interior room and the narrow width contributes to nimbleness.

So what makes it great in some ways, hurts in others. This is the story of my life as well!
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Old 05-01-2008, 08:37 PM   #6 (permalink)
 
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roll-couple distributation
Nice try at big words, but distributation is not a word.
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Old 05-01-2008, 08:52 PM   #7 (permalink)
 
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Nice try at big words, but distributation is not a word.
I am very sorry to have offended you. That was not my intention
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Old 05-01-2008, 08:57 PM   #8 (permalink)
 
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I am very sorry to have offended you. That was not my intention
You didn't offend me at all. It was a very good evening laugh- thanks!
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